U.S. loses to France in Fed Cup final

[joeybee12]

MOSCOW, Nov. 23 — Even a victory by Martina Navratilova came too late to rescue the Americans, who were beaten by France in the Fed Cup finals Sunday. The French won the women’s version of the Davis Cup 4-1, getting a clinching victory from Amelie Mauresmo to win the title a second time.

“I WAS JUST HAPPY for the team that we didn’t get shut out,” Navratilova said.
Mauresmo routed Meghann Shaughnessy 6-2, 6-1 to put France ahead 3-0 in the best-of-five series.
“I really wanted to bring that third point to the team, and that’s what I did,” Mauresmo said.
France’s Emilie Loit then downed Alexandra Stevenson 6-4, 6-2 in a match between substitutes. The U.S. team, captained by Billie Jean King, salvaged a doubles victory to avoid a sweep.
Navratilova, 47, extended her Fed Cup record to 39-0, teaming with Lisa Raymond to beat Loit and Stephanie Cohen-Aloro 6-4, 6-0.
“It’s bad enough losing ... so I just wanted to hold it up with Lisa for the rest of the team,” Navratilova said.
Mauresmo, undefeated in Fed Cup play this season, ended American hopes for an 18th title.
The U.S. team was without its top players for the semifinals and finals. Serena and Venus Williams were sidelined by injuries and Lindsay Davenport was recovering from surgery.
France, which won its only other Fed Cup in 1997, went into the final day at Olympic Stadium ahead 2-0. On Saturday, Mauresmo defeated Raymond, and Mary Pierce struggled past Shaughnessy.
“This year, everything was perfect,” Mauresmo said.
Mauresmo, a finalist in the season-ending WTA Championships, dropped only one set in her eight Fed Cup matches this season. She led France’s semifinal win over Russia with two singles victories.
France had lost to the United States in the 10 previous Fed Cup encounters. The United States has won 17 Fed Cup titles in 26 appearances.
The French beat the Netherlands in their only previous trip to the finals six years ago. Pierce was the only member from that team to play this year.
No team has come back from a 2-0 deficit in the finals. The United States had hoped to win both singles Sunday, leaving the title up to Raymond and Navratilova.
This marked the first time a team featuring Navratilova lost a Fed Cup series. Navratilova has not lost in the Fed Cup since she first played in the event for her native Czechoslovakia in 1975.
Navratilova is ready to return for the 2004 Fed Cup in April when the United States opens at Slovenia — if she is invited by King.
She also hopes to team with Raymond at next year’s Athens Olympics. The two won their doubles match Thursday in a 4-1 semifinal victory over Belgium.
“It’s going great,” Navratilova said. “I can’t wait for next year.”
© 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

[Voltaire99]

1. Final straw. US Congress to ban French cocaine in men's bathrooms.

Have to draw the line somewhere. ;-)